A number of sites have been identified for survey to assess any damage cause by the tsunami event. Sites on the East coast (red dots) were surveyed by MENR and SCMRT-MPA and those on the West (blue dots) by Reef Care international and MCSS.

 The first group conducted surveys on December 30th during four 10 minute dives in difficult conditions on sites off the East coast of Mahe, (Anonyme island, Grand Rocher, Moyenne island and Anse Cimitre at St. Annes Island). These islands are the Eastern most sites facing towards the direction of the tsunami event. 

This survey found that on 75% of the reefs surveyed there was 10% or less than 10% of damage to live coral that might be attributable to the impact of the tsunami.

The second group conducted surveys on the West coast of Mahe in mid January. They made four dives of 60 – 80 minutes on sites repeatedly monitored over the last three years in the SEYMEMP to assess any changes in coral communities and any indication of coral damage or reef structure change on both granitic and limestone based reefs. Sites surveyed were Bay Ternay Marine Park and the popular dive sites of Corsair Reef, L’Ilot and the Aquarium.

Healthy Acropora corals at the Aquarium dive site, Beau Vallon Bay. Photo Udo Engelhardt

These surveys indicated that the maximum damage to corals on any of these reefs was less than 1% and that this damage may have been due to more direct causes (e.g. boat anchors). The branching Acropora corals are the most fragile of coral species and important for providing the three dimensional structure of the reefs; the survey noted that there was almost no damage to these corals even in the shallowest waters. There was also no evidence of siltation which had been feared due to the large amount of sand movement induced by the tidal surges that the tsunami event induced and also because of heavy run off due to extreme rains after this event.

	The reappearance of the Longnose Filefish indicate that branching corals on which they feed are becoming more numerous. Photo Udo Engelhardt

 Additional surveys are to be conducted by both survey groups over the coming weeks includingrepeat surveys in the Amirantes islands to the South of the granitic islands but the indications to date are that the reefs have survived remarkably well. 

One additional encouraging feature was the documented presence on three occasions of the Longnose Filefish (Oxymonacanthus longirostris). This almost obligate coral polyp feeder had apparently disappeared from the reefs after the bleaching event and is now making a comeback.

Special thanks to Pierre Andre Adam,
Marine Unit (MENR) and Udo Engelhardt, Reefcare International.